Need ideas for front yard landscaping and driveway remodel!

12 years ago

last modified: 12 years ago

Hello, Houzz community!

I've lived in my San Francisco home since 2006, which I've renovated over the years. My next project is adding some curb appeal to the house. Low maintenance is the name of the game!

The cement driveway and walkway have settled, cracked and chipped away over the years. Additionally, edges of the walkway up to my front steps are unfinished, and look rather ugly. Ideally, I'd like to demolish the driveway and walkway, opting for a paving stone solution that's simple, elegant, and easily replaceable if a stone breaks.

The planter boxes (although well kept) are too wide, and taking up too much driveway space. The wood has decayed over the years, and I keep hitting them with my car door. I want to remove the planter boxes near the driveway entry, making the driveway wider, and perhaps substituting one, smaller planter box up against the garage the garage, or elsewhere (feel free to make suggestions, please!) The planter box must be made of material which will last for many years to come. For the landscaping, I want to remove the dead grass, and substitute gravel or rocks, with low maintenance plants that can survive in the cold, foggy weather. Periodically we get sun in my neighborhood as well.

I've included some photos of my current setup. To get a better idea of my style (or lack thereof,) you can also find a few photos from inside my home here: http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/28753360/thumbs/My-House

I apologize for the mini-novella describing my issues. I'm excited to get some feedback and tackle this problem.

Thanks!

Featured Answer

joannrusk

12 years ago

I agree that the entire area needs to be dug up, and you will need to start over. These are some of the issues I see that you will want to address. Since the garage door and the window appear to be off-center in the space (although it may just be the angle of the photo), something vertical to the left of the garage door would help add balance. The exterior has a lovely color scheme. For cohesiveness, I would incorporate the color and pattern of the brick trim into the new planters as well as into the driveway and walkway, perhaps as trim to pavers, gravel, etc. I would add a decorative plaque or similar in keeping with the style of your house to showcase the house numbers and to add a greater visual interest to that space. Professional assistance is needed and well worth it. I would do some research for someone in your area whose work you find appealing.

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Comments (12)

Gilbert-Ian
12 years ago
How about something like this?
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jonathanlally
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks so much for your wonderful and detailed tip, Joann. It's very appreciated!
jonathanlally
Original Author
12 years ago
Love the idea about using a plaque for my house number. Never thought of that.
Gilbert-Ian
12 years ago
You're welcome!
joannrusk
12 years ago
I'm thinking a metal plaque - maybe a dark gray background to match your house trim with a shape to complement the staircase like little clipped corners. Simple bold numbers in lighter finish. Inexpensive and fun to research and play with the possibilities.
jonathanlally thanked joannrusk
PRO
Red Berm
12 years ago
I would pull that planter by the house back to the other planter to give you more space and think about putting in a path from the drive to the house entry walk that way you can park on the driveway and walk across.
jonathanlally thanked Red Berm
bgfuqua
12 years ago
I agree that you need professional advice on drive and walk. be sure to get good looking that fits in with stairs - not just asphalt.
jonathanlally thanked bgfuqua
libradesigneye
12 years ago
Pavers are going to be a good solution for you for the hardscape, but I would urge you to use stucco on block with brick topping to match house for any other planters you do. Looks like you need retaining on the left - you might have to step those down - put one full height at the property line, then keep the next one that is yours down at sit wall height. I would- keep some planting between drive and entry and cut the planting on left of drive to half depth. Consider unifying your plant palette - the flat areas in front "grass" could be a place to relocate the stuff on the left that needs to come out. Layering only three favorite flowering shrubs would be better impression than current diversity.
jonathanlally thanked libradesigneye
PRO
Aspen Falls Landscape & Construction
12 years ago
Belgard has quality paver products. for As a design company this is what we use and our customers love them!

http://www.belgard.com/inspiration
apple_pie_order
12 years ago
Pavers are good for areas with earthquakes and shifting soil underfoot. For the planter boxes, think about fiberglass or custom wood boxes built around sturdy plastic boxes with drains. At the edge of the driveway, avoid planting anything that will attract dogs who want to mark it.

Your house is magnificent. It really needs a pro to do a design for you. Check with the city on front yard regulations before talking to the landscape designers. There may be some ratio of hardscape to softscape and about water usage/drainage to deal with, among other things.
PRO
Cascio Associates - Site Planning - Landscape Arch
11 years ago
Simplify, please. You have no front yard for any pedestrian activity. No outdoor space to chat with neighbors, no place for kids to meet with their friends. I offer some food for thought, although I may be a year or two too late.

a. Remove all that planting and construction to the left of the garage.

b. It looks like an evergreen at the left corner of the house. If it is a plant that can become part of a hedge and is thornless, continue with like members all the way to the front property line, removing your neighbor's vehicles from groundlevel view - make them disappear. They no longer exist.

c. Pave your entire front yard with one material - simplify - driveway, front walk, the entire front yard. If you have your plants in containers, you can move them around to create different looks from time to time. And place some benches and chairs to the left side of the FORMER driveway, so they will be handy when neighbors drop by - even if you are not home.

d. Remove your overhead door and install patio doors or whatever they are called that have glass panes and fold to the side, but look pedestrian. Maybe they have them that go overhead too, if that is your preference. Just change the look from vehicular to pedestrian. Either park in the garage or on the street - the front yard is now pedestrian territory, no vehicles allowed. You probably have two cars, huh, so just bring it off the street at night, when all pedestrians are at dinner or playing checkers - no?

e. Simplify - and enjoy.

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